Chapter 9Ethics of Caring

Chapter 9Ethics of Caring

Changes Increasing Ethical Dilemmas for NursesChanges Increasing Ethical Dilemmas for Nurses

• Expanded role of nurses.

• Medical technology.

• New fiscal constraints.

• Greater numbers of older adults.

Increased Accountability of NursesIncreased Accountability of Nurses

• Wider scope of functions:

– Performing sophisticated assessments.

– Diagnosing nursing problems.

– Monitoring and giving complicated treatments.

– Using alternative modalities of care.

– Making independent judgments about patients’ status.

• Higher salaries and greater status of nurses

Philosophies Guiding Ethical ThinkingPhilosophies Guiding Ethical Thinking

• Utilitarianism: good acts are those from which the greatest number of people will benefit and gain happiness.

• Egoism: an act is morally acceptable if it is of the greatest benefit to oneself; there is no reason to perform an act that benefits others unless one will personally benefit from it as well.

Philosophies Guiding Ethical Thinking (cont.)Philosophies Guiding Ethical Thinking (cont.)

• Relativism: right and wrong are relative to the situation (situational ethics).

• Naturalism:

– (1) Something is good if there are positive attitudes or interests in it, or

– (2) something is good if the ideal, objective person has a positive attitude or interest in it.

Ethical PrinciplesEthical Principles

• Beneficence: to do good for patients.

• Nonmaleficence: to prevent harm to patients.

• Justice: to be fair, treat people equally, and give patients the service they need.

Ethical Principles (cont.)Ethical Principles (cont.)

• Fidelity and Veracity: to respect our words and duty to patients.

• Autonomy: to respect patients’ freedoms, preferences, and rights.

Examples of Using Ethical PrinciplesExamples of Using Ethical Principles

• Ensuring that patients receive the care they need.

• Respecting the rights of patients to consent to or deny consent for treatment.

• Preventing incompetent staff from caring for patients.

• Following acceptable standards of practice.

Measures to Help Nurses Make Ethical DecisionsMeasures to Help Nurses Make Ethical Decisions

• Encourage patients’ expressions of desires.

• Identify significant others who impact and are impacted.

• Know thyself.

• Read.

• Discuss.

• Form an ethics committee.

Measures to Help Nurses Make Ethical Decisions (cont.)Measures to Help Nurses Make Ethical Decisions (cont.)

• Consult.

• Share.

• Evaluate decisions.

SourceSource

• Eliopoulos, C. (2005).  Gerontological Nursing, (6th ed.).  Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (ISBN 0-7817-4428-8).